Chapter 232

Luke and his companions revealed themselves without hesitation before everyone.

The first to react, naturally, were the Sakoonpa members transporting the Specter Desire Incense.

“Luke? What brings you here?”

“Our objectives overlap. Didn’t you notice?”

As Luke spoke, gesturing toward our direction, the Sakoonpa special task force immediately entered a defensive stance.

“…Junior. It seems things are getting complicated.”

“It’s fine. This is still largely within the expected range.”

While it would have been best to settle this without Luke’s intervention, as mentioned before, we had fully anticipated this possibility.

Now, there was no longer any point in hiding.

Leading Baek Soyool’s subordinates and Arietta, I finally arrived before them.

“Pleasure. I’ve been waiting for the day we’d meet again.”

“…….”

An intense presence that could be felt just by standing there, but I deliberately ignored it, using my Appraisal ability to gauge the level of the special task force.

‘Indeed, tricky.’

To be precise, there were no overwhelmingly powerful individuals.

However, it was a perfect elite unit, nearly all of them hovering around the mid-Level 50s.

Given the situation required seizing the Specter Desire Incense, this actually made things more troublesome.

“…It may be presumptuous, but we seem to be at a disadvantage in terms of combat power. I think it would be best to withdraw for now.”

Sensing the level difference without even needing to confirm, Baek Kang-woo, one of Baek Soyool’s subordinates, expressed his unease.

Certainly true.

If both sides clashed as they were now, the ones who would be utterly crushed would be us.

Consequently, the morale of Baek Soyool’s subordinates was naturally dropping.

“Hmm, it seems things might be easier than expected after all.”

Allen Kruger, one of the two companions who appeared with Luke, spoke with a composed smile.

And as I observed him, I subtly glanced toward the other side of the forest.

‘Is it about time?’

Frankly speaking, if Luke intervened in this matter, there weren’t many ways to counter it.

Due to the Sakoonpa gathering to draw attention, the Three Great Noble Families couldn’t move, and Headquarters couldn’t easily exert force due to the aftermath of the previous incident.

Ironically, however, I found the solution in Allen Kruger, who had joined Luke’s group.

“It will be harder than you think.”

“What?”

“Because right now, they are intensely focused on capturing you.”

As I finished speaking, multiple presences began to be felt rapidly approaching from the other side of the forest.

Luke’s group frowned at this, and the Sakoonpa special task force also clicked their tongues and turned their heads.

What appeared from there was a group of Westerners exuding considerable force.

“…The watch is reacting. It’s really him.”

“Haha, oh my. An unexpected move.”

Allen Kruger, having confirmed their identity, couldn’t hide his panic and let out a hollow laugh.

They were members of the Kruger family, to which Yohan, one of the original work’s protagonists, belonged.

True hunters who have fought Forbidden Techniques their entire lives, pursuing their ancestor Allen, the so-called stain of the Kruger family.

And through my connection with Yohan, I made a contract with them.

I would lure Allen Kruger in nicely, so they should lend me their strength in this fight.

“I must express my gratitude to you. So, are all of them enemies?”

“Yes. That’s correct. The other two are Luke Pensalot and Drax from the Night School, and those behind are Sakoonpa members.”

“Quite a lineup of notorious individuals.”

Even for the Kruger family, they were certainly formidable enemies, but the feeling the other side had was probably even greater.

‘The Kruger family of Forbidden Technique hunting is truly famous.’

Both their prestige and strength were on par with any decent noble family, and they had even brought all their forces without regard for consequences to achieve their family’s long-cherished wish.

Just John Kruger before my eyes was a powerhouse exceeding Level 60, which said enough.

“Hey Luke. The Kruger family is dangerous.”

“…….”

“They are skilled in handling Forbidden Techniques and have hunted countless strong opponents with precise coordination. They could be our natural counter.”

Drax, who had been observing the situation, sent a warning, but Luke didn’t seem inclined to back down easily.

He knew that if it weren’t for now, having escaped the surveillance of the Three Great Noble Families, it would be nearly impossible to face me with peace of mind.

‘That’s how you should come out.’

Given the carefully prepared stage, letting them escape again would be a significant loss for me as well.

Ultimately, in a situation where neither side could back down, the all-out battle finally began.

“Deal with them!”

“We must protect the item at all costs!”

The Sakoonpa members, though utterly bewildered by the situation, calmly assumed their stance and moved to defend.

And simultaneously, I observed the clashing factions and quickly made a decision.

‘First, seize the Specter Desire Jar.’

Once the decision was made, there was no hesitation in action.

As I gave a look, Arietta nodded, then dyed her eyes crimson and vanished into the shadows.

I made a request to John Kruger beside me.

“Could you hold the enemies back for a moment?”

“Not difficult. They are all sinners who have dabbled in Forbidden Arts anyway. They cannot be free from us.”

Well, given the Kruger family’s expertise in dealing with Forbidden Arts, no matter how strong the opponent, they wouldn’t be taken lightly.

Reassured by John’s bold declaration, I glanced toward Luke’s direction and then moved toward the Sakoonpa members.

“Only Ms. Baek Soyool, please follow me. The rest of you, please assist the Kruger family.”

“You heard her? Everyone, take care of your own lives.”

“Yes! Understood!”

As Baek Soyool, who once tried to leave the Baek Family and establish her own independent force, she had quite a number of loyal subordinates.

While they might seem somewhat overshadowed because everyone here was too outstanding, they too were skilled enough to hold their own.

‘…This seems roughly sorted out.’

Now, I too must achieve my original objective amidst this chaotic battle.

As I moved quickly and approached the rear of the Sakoonpa special task force engaged with the Kruger family, the one who appeared to be their leader urgently shouted.

“Don’t let them get close!”

Upon hearing that, six personnel rushed toward us.

Each one was a powerhouse hovering between 2nd-Rank and 1st-Rank Exorcist, but frankly, that was a huge miscalculation.

“I’ll break through quickly.”

“I was waiting.”

As if itching for a fight after a long time, Baek Soyool deployed her family’s unique Enhancement Art and explosively shot toward the enemies.

In her hands was now a superior Cursed Tool in the form of a staff, and it shattered the Cursed Techniques the opponents were trying to deploy, instantly overturning the enemy lines.

Whoosh!

Crackle-zap!

“Gah!”

“Keugh!”

The astonishing result was no surprise.

As mentioned before, she too was a genius who stood out among the prodigies of the Baek Family.

With a little more time, she could reach the Special-Rank realm.

For someone like her, ordinary quasi-1st-Rank Exorcists were not particularly difficult opponents.

“Stay calm! The enemy is strong! We must use combined attacks!”

The Sakoonpa members quickly assessed the enemy’s strength and changed their stance, but unfortunately, it was already too late.

A crimson mist that had appeared behind them at some point instantly turned into intangible blades and began collapsing their Battle Formation.

Slash!

Swipe!

Crunch-crack!

“Graaah!”

“Something’s there! Be caref—keugh!”

The Sakoonpa Exorcists collapsed in an instant, literally without a chance to react.

The one who created that spectacle was Arietta, who had concealed herself earlier using her mist transformation ability.

Arietta, who had already begun awakening the abilities of her True Noble Blood Trait, had reached a realm utterly inaccessible to ordinary Mortals.

As six comrades collapsed without even being able to respond, their leader panicked and began stepping forward personally, leading his subordinates.

He had realized that ordinary individuals couldn’t handle this.

‘His name is Ju Wang-rin, Level 63.’

He was certainly strong. He probably held a position equivalent to a Sakoonpa Branch Office head within this special task force.

But unfortunately, our progress had already advanced too far for him to handle alone.

“Giant Strength Oni, Ox-Head Oni.”

Slither.

Poof-whoosh!

[Grooooaar!]

[Grrr.]

New Crafted Shikigami I had prepared a long time ago, as my Level reached a certain stage.

Of course, they couldn’t compare to my current Shikigami, but they still possessed power different from the Fierce Wolf and Bone Bear shown before.

While Ju Wang-rin deployed Cursed Techniques against the giant Shikigami, a huge hand suddenly shot out from my shadow that had seeped behind him at some point and grabbed his leg.

It was Keuseundae.

[Grooooaar!]

“Keugh!”

Keuseundae, having grabbed Ju Wang-rin, slammed him down with all its might, and Ju Wang-rin flew like a piece of paper, colliding with the ground.

Being a high-level powerhouse himself, he seemed to have somehow protected his body, but judging by his expression, he was quite shocked.

“Senior, I’ll leave this to you.”

“…Yeah. Leave it.”

Leaving the remaining Shikigami and Arietta to handle the rear, Baek Soyool and I hurriedly rushed toward the location of the Specter Desire Incense.

Naturally, there were a few troops guarding it, but dealing with them wasn’t difficult.

Soon, we were able to face the strange jar emitting a sinister force.

“So this is the Specter Desire Jar…”

Baek Soyool froze for a moment, staring at it as if entranced, and I too felt a chilling sensation running down my spine.

It was definitely a dangerous object. If its seal were completely broken, Seoul would truly be engulfed in disaster.

“Let’s hurry and proceed as planned.”

At my words, Baek Soyool gathered her Spiritual Power and picked up the jar, and we began hastily leaving the battlefield.

However, before we could take more than a few steps, Baek Soyool slumped down as if collapsing.

“Huff, huff. This is embarrassing. This seems to be something I can’t handle…”

Simultaneously, Ju Wang-rin, having noticed this, urgently shouted.

“I don’t know what you’re aiming for, but this is not an object you can handle! Unless you use special Cursed Tools and Cursed Techniques, merely touching it will cause you to be eroded by the Curse! It’s better to give up quietly!”

At Ju Wang-rin’s words, I focused my power and calmly stared at the stream of energy flowing from the Specter Desire Jar.

And then, slowly, I reached my hand forward.